Gage-line holder



S. J. TIEFEL GAGE-LINE HOLDER Filed March 17, 1955 II I Sept. 17, 1957 ll II IN VEN TOR 5/M0/v J. 77EFEL Un t d States P en '0 i This invention relates to irnprovements in masons line holders and particularly to a line holder of the type which is adapted to be held in place by the tension of a line drawn between the same and a similar holder at the opposite end of the line.

Conducive-to a better understanding of this invention, it may be well to point out that so-called gage-lines are commonly used between guidepoints as straight edges in the laying up of brick, masonry, or similar walls. These devices are used in pairs and provide means for anchoring the guide line thereto while the device is hooked around'the guide points. However, many such devices presently in use require that they be hooked around an end corner of a wall or course of brick, and such devices cannot be used on inside corners, windowsills, soldier courses, or in laying up one wall against another where no open corner is available.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a guide-line holder that can be used away from outside corners to lay up window sills, rowlocks, soldier courses, inside corners of cement block, SCR, or common brick walls.

A further object is to provide a guide-line holder that can be anchored any place in a brick wall by straddling a brick.

Another object is to provide a device of the type stated that can be anchored in the voids of cement blocks, or SCR brick.

Still another object is to provide a device of this character that is small in size, economical to manufacture and simple and versatile in use.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification and claim, together with the accompanying drawing, wherein;

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the gage-line holder that is the subject of this invention;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same;

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the same;

Figure 4 is a rear view of the same;

Figure 5 is a front view of the same;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a partially completed structure, illustrating several applications of the device to portions of brick and cinder block constructions; and

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the gage-line holder showing the guide line attached thereto and disposed in alternate directions, both parallel and at right angles to the anchoring point.

Referring more particularly to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the drawing, there will be seen the gage-line holder that is the subject of this invention, broadly indicated by reference numeral 10. The holder 10 is fashioned from a single sheet of material having suitable characteristics of rigidity and strength. In its preferred form, the holder 10 is stamped and shaped from sheet iron and given a protective coating of cadmium, chrome, paint, or the like.

It may, of course, be made from corrosion resistant materials such as aluminum or plastics. The choice of materials is limited only by consideration of cost.

The gage-line holder consists of a sheet material body portion 11 of substantially rectangular shape. The ends are bent at to the body to form front and rear dependent legs 12 and 13 respectively. The legs 12- and 13 are spaced a distance apart such that when the body 11 isplaced across the width of a common brick the legs will bear against the side faces thereof and will lock the body 11 to the brick upon slight edgevvise tilting. The forward leg 12 is joined to the body 11 through a transverse offset 14 which forms a channel 16 open both to the rear and at both ends. As will be most clearly seen in Figure l, the channel 16 lays forward of the rear face of the leg 12, so that a guide line may be nested therein in front of the rear face of the leg 12.

Reference numeral 17 indicates a vertical slot in the leg 12 that extends from the lower edge thereof to the channel 16. Reference numeral 15 indicates a notch in the lower edge of the rear leg 13 which is aligned with the slot 17, as is most clearly seen in Figures 2, 3, 4 and 5.

Reference numerals 18 and 19 indicate a pair of oppositely disposed gage-line anchoring tongues which are cut out of the body stock 11 and bent to form anchoring means against which the gage-line may be drawn and anchored, against the body 11. The two tongues are aligned with the slot 17. The forward tongue 18 is cut out of the body at the junction point of the transverse offset 16 and the upper end of the leg slot 17 and extends over the upper end of the slot 17. The rear tongue 19 extends toward the rear leg 13.

In use, the gage line 20 is anchored to the holder 10 as illustrated in Figure 7. In Figure 7 it will be seen that the gage line 20 is caught under the rear tongue 19, drawn back on itself over and under the tongue 18, back ward through the slot 17 and then brought forward against the left half of the channel 16 to lay thereagainst. In this position, as indicated in solid black, the line 20 leads off to the left. To cause the string to lead off to the right, as indicated in dotted lines by reference numeral 20b, the line is nested against the right half of the channel 16.

To set up the guide string for points perpendicular to the front leg 12 (as when used on outside comers- A, Figure 6) the line 20 is drawn straight back from the slot 17 and caused to pass through the rear leg notch 15, as illustrated by dot and dash line 20a.

It is, of course, to be understood that in use these holders 10 are always used in pairs, at aligned guide points, with the line 20 extended therebetween.

Referring to Figure 6, reference letter A shows the manner of attaching the line A to common brick 30 at an outside corner. B and B show its application to a common brick away from a corner. In the application, the holder 10 spans the width of the brick. With the string B drawn tight the holder 10 is tilted slightly causing the legs 12 and 13 to lock against the brick. C and C show the tool being used on the end of a common brick when laying window sills. D and D show its application to the laying of a soldier course for decorative purposes. F and F show how the tool can be used in limited space such as backing up to another wall. E

and E illustrate one of the most useful applications of this device, namely, in laying up cement and cinder block 31 on an inside corner such as is commonly encountered in basement work. The rear leg 13 of the holder 10 is placed in the void of a block 31, with the edge of the front leg 12 against the face of the block. When the line E is drawn taut, the holder E is securely anchored to the block by the wedging action of the legs 13 and 12.

G and G indicate theme of the holder across a corner,

which works well for coping or any top course;

The holder may also be used for inside corners with SCR brick,,in which case the leg 13 is placed in a suitable hole ii -the brick firi much the mannerillustrated with cement block.

In conclusiori, it should be noted that the position of the channel 16 forward of the rear face of the leg 12, as shownin Figure 1, allows the string 20 nested therein, as'shown in Figure 7, to stay about V inch away from the guide brick'so that the wall being built can be kept aligned without actually contacting the string at any point.

Again, it' should also be noted that the notch 15, of the rear leg 13 permits, the line 20g to float through without being held against the wall. 7

The tool can also be used to prevent a long guide line from sagging between vwidely separated guide points by building an intermediate pier to thedesired height and placing a tool upside down on the top brick which is level with guide points and supporting the string on the tongue 18. A loose brick is then placed on the body 11 between the legs 13 and 12 to hold the tool in place.

It will now be clear that there is provided a device which accomplishes the objectives heretofore set forth. While the invention has been disclosed in its preferred form, it is to be understood that the specific embodiment thereof as described and illustrated herein is not to be considered in a limited sense as there may be other forms or modifications of the invention which should i also be construed to come within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

A gage-line holder, comprising, a flat, substantially rectangularly shaped sheet material body having spaced dependent and parallel front and rear legs formed integral therewith, the rear leg having a central notch at the lower edge thereof, the front leg being joined to the body through a transverse offset forming, a channel openat both ends lying forward of the rear face of the leg, said front leg having a vertical slot therein, aligned with the rear leg notch, extending from its lower edge, across the channel and rearwardly thereof along the body, the material formerly lying in "the area of the slot to the rear of the channel being up-struck to form a first line anchoring tongue, and a second line-anchoring tongue up-struck from the body and spaced rearwardly of the first tongue, the base of saidfirst tongue being at the slot, whereby the anchored line maybe led directly from the first tongue through the slot and be swung directly into the channel, either to theright or left of the body, or backward thereof through the rear leg notch.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,530,121 Garwood Nov. 14, 1950 2,585,160 Munn Feb. 12, 1952 2,603,875 Kroll July 22, 1952 2,618,858 Zinken Nov. 25, 1952 

